Get away from it all this Christmas

Giving a break to single moms or dads travelling with their kids, various Cuban resorts don't charge the usual single parent supplement.

Photograph by: Handout photo
, Cuba Tourist Board in Canada

As the song goes, "Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays" - unless you'd rather be "travelin' down to Dixie's sunny shore" and other parts south.

Canadians dreaming of a green Christmas have already booked week-long trips over the holiday break to exotic spots. Carol Brennan, a travel consultant at Mae's Travel in Amherstburg, Ontario says, "Some people get away because of depression over the weather."

Others want a change from tradition. "Families would rather go away and spend the holidays in a hot destination than do the turkey and all that stuff."

There are other emotional motivations that prompt people to start packing. "If you've lost a family member, it can be too hard to stay in town," Brennan says. "We've also had people go away because they don't want to be with their families."

The options are tempting. Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic offers fabulous beaches facing the Caribbean and Atlantic, a 16th century fishing village and nearby, Ponce de Leon's Fortress.

Mexico's Mayan Riviera invites visitors to swim with dolphins, explore the jungle and discover archeological ruins in ecoparks and at Chichen Itza.

Christmas cruises bound for three days and longer in the Bahamas and the Eastern and Western Caribbean sail out of Florida at reasonable prices.

To save on airfare, Canadians can also drive south and enjoy the sights en route.

With so many people choosing to go on vacation over Christmas, demand pushes prices higher. "If you book to go at a later date, it's more economical," Brennan suggests. At Mae's Travel, clients are purchasing travel packages to give as Christmas gifts, with the actual trip occurring over March break or another time in the New Year. Brennan creates a custom vacation voucher describing the trip, which a client can put in a gift box along with sunglasses and sunscreen to carry the theme.

Giving a break to single moms or dads travelling with their kids, various Cuban resorts don't charge the usual single parent supplement. "These vacations are economical. Families can afford them," says Brennan.

Daily activities, supervised children and teen programs, entertainment, restaurants, discos and more features are part of the deal at all-inclusive resorts. "Parents can lie on the beach and not worry about their kids' safety," Brennan assures. In general, "People feel so safe in Cuba. As long as you're not leaving the resort at night and going into downtown bars, you're fine."

The gift of travel is also appreciated by seniors who derive pleasure from new experiences. Brennan says she and her siblings "give my mom gift certificates that she can use for any kind of travel she wants to do throughout the year."

Encouraged by gift certificates in hand, senior parents "will do something and they don't have to pay for it," says Brennan.

The people who are lucky enough to receive the opportunity to travel this Christmas will wrap up with two more presents: Great photos and wonderful memories.

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